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Yoga and Osteopathy

​I am especially interested in the meditation side of Yoga and the benefits, both physical, and mental that it can bring to an individual. Whilst Osteopathy isn't widely known for its spirituality and philosophy, it does have both. Obviously this is not represented in the normal "clicking" type osteopathy, but it is very present in cranio-sacral and biodynamic osteopathy. It can shed light on what is prana, how do i feel it in myself, what importance does it have to my health, and state of mind. My classes are a mix of vinyasa flow, yin yoga and always ending on a meditation.

I have been working as an Osteopath for over 15 years now, and Osteopathy came first for me. From a structural and injury point of view Osteopaths have to have a very detailed knowledge of anatomy, physiology, immunology, endocrinology, and neurology. This means that when you are coming for a Yoga class with me I fully understand what is going to help or hinder you personally. In this way we can avoid injuries or making conditions worse.

Osteopathy though, like Yoga has hidden depths if the philosophy of both are properly understood, and worked with. This brings us on to questions like:

What makes a Yoga class different from a normal exercise class?

What is meant by the idea that Yoga can help us bring balance to our mind, body, and soul? How does that work?

What is meant by the idea that Osteopathy is a holistic therapy, and how is this connected to Yoga?

Why do Yoga websites always have pictures of the great outdoors? How is this relevant to my Health?

Both philosophies come from radically different cultures. The origins of Yoga are debated and not definitive. Yoga originates from India and a lot of people believe it has its origins in Hindu and Buddhist ideology.

Osteopathy has it origins in America and is based on learning to understand and work in conjunction with natural laws to aide healing. Both philosophies are based on the understanding that a whole person includes body, mind and soul.

The idea of both is to bring the three individual elements to balance within you. When this happens we come to a neutral, which is a synonym for homeostasis. (Homeostasis: the ability or tendency of a living organism, cell, or group to keep the conditions inside it the same despite any changes in the conditions around it). This condition of neutral is essential for good health, both psychologically and physically.

A lot of my work as an Osteopath is as a Biodynamic Osteopath. This allows us to understand how a neutral occurs in the body. We know what this feels like and how to bring it about. We know how this brings about good health and how it connects with our fight or flight response. To answer the last question it is proven that when we are in Nature we are bought closer to neutral.

It is my mission to use my work both in Osteopathy and in Yoga to help you understand this more and therefore bring better balance to your health and sense of well-being.